Early access to treatment is key to mental health care

My sympathy and support is extended to the families of the victims of the shooting in Tucson, Ariz.

We do not know the motivation or the reason for the shooting, however, there has been much speculation about the mental health of the individual who did the shooting. This kind of violence is not characteristic of people who have a mental illness. Scientific studies have shown that people with mental health conditions are no more prone to violence than the rest of the population. A small portion of individuals with a specific mental illness is at risk for violence if their symptoms go untreated.

Current studies show that one in four adult Americans will experience a mental health problem in any given year yet fewer than one-third will seek help or receive treatment. Nationally our mental health system is underfunded. In this economy there is an increased demand for mental health services and yet strained budgets have drastically cut funding for community mental health services.

We must reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and eliminate the barriers to accessing treatment. Now is the time to band together to address the issues to make our mental health care system effective, accessible and easy to use. Early access to treatment will help prevent this type of tragedy.